204 CARTHAMUS. . 



says, the vital heat and cause a free perspiration : he 

 boasts of havino; used it in all diseases, in doses of half 

 to one teaspoon full, with good effect, to have cured 

 agues, fevers, spotted fevers, &c. witli it, and to have 

 always found it harmless. This must be false, it cannot 

 be harmless in inflammatory disorders, nay, rather per- 

 nicious- By Dr. Conwell's analysis, it contains a pecu- 

 liar substance, Capsiciney azote, mucilage, nitrate of 

 potash, a coloring matter, &c. 



CARDAMINE, L. Ladies^ Smock. Many species* 

 Equivalent of Nasturtium^ but more diuretic, nervine 

 and diaphoretic- Roots said to be purgative- Leaves 

 edible. Flowers most efficient, usea in powder for epi- 

 lepsy, hysterics, chorea and spasmodic asthma, united to 



Valerian. 



CAREX, L. Sedge. A tribe of grasses rather than 



genus: nearly 150 species lately ascertained with us, 



by Schweinitz, Torrey, Dewey, and myself. Not much 



liked by cattle: the large kinds make a rough kind of 



hay ; those of salt marshes rather better owing to the 



salt taste ; useful to consolidate marshes and sands- 

 Those with odorous roo|:s are medical, like C arenaria 

 of Europe, edible, stomachic, diuretic, equivalent of sar- 

 saparilla, gayac and Dactylon. 



CARICA PAPAYA, L. Papay. Wild in Florida, 

 fine evergreen tropical tree : fruit like a pear, good to 

 eat : milk of the unripe fruit a fine vermifuge, one dose 

 is said to kill all worms, and e^ren the tapeworm, a dose 

 of castor oil is taken next to expel them- 



CARLIN A ACAULIS, L. Ground Thistle. In Rhode 

 Island and Virginia, according to Gronovius, Forster and 

 Schoepf : oiuitted by all our late botanists, perhaps a 

 Cnicus, Bitter, aromatic, acrid, graveolent, sudorific 

 and stomachic, useful in hysterics and hypochondria- 

 Schoepf. 



CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS, L. Bastard Saffroru 

 Cultivated, become spontaneous. Flowers and seeds 

 nauseous, bitter and aromatic, laxative, diaphoretic and 

 diuretic, useful in jaundice, cough, asthma, dropsy, mea- 

 si€8, exanthema, &:c. in infusion. The seeds produce 

 oil suitable for burning. Flowers chieflv used to die 

 yellow and make the LadieaP rouge. (Jften imposed 



